On the random neighbor Olami-Feder-Christensen slip-stick model

We reconsider the treatment of Lise and Jensen (Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 2326 (1996)) on the random neighbor Olami-Feder-Christensen stik-slip model, and examine the strong dependence of the results on the approximations used for the distribution of states p(E).Comment: 6pages, 3 figures. To be published in PRE as a brief repor

Uma interpretação sobre a evolução da produtividade industrial no Brasil nos anos noventa e as "leis" de Kaldor [An interpretation of industrial productivity evolution in Brazil in the nineties and the Kaldor 'laws']

The aim of this paper is to recover Kaldor´s propositions to shed some light on the recent debate about industrial productivity in Brazil. Nowadays, it is a well-disseminated idea that the opening of the economy has contributed to the increased industrial productivity in the nineties. However, theoretical arguments have emphasized supply sources as the main cause of such an increased productivity. Following the Keynesian tradition, Kaldor emphasizes the importance of the aggregate demand components to explain productivity growth. In conclusion, we call attention to the fact that sustainability of productivity growth depends basically on the factors working on the aggregate demand side.industrial productivity, industrial growth, structural change

Concentração industrial e produtividade do trabalho na indústria de transformação nos anos 90: evidências empíricas

This paper discusses the evolution of industrial concentration from 1985 to 1998. In the first part we associate this discussion to the degree of technological intensity in industry. To conduct this investigation, we had to make comparable the industrial classification in 1985, 1994 and 1998. After that, we classified all the industrialsectors according to the intensity in technology. In the second and third parts of this paper we discuss the association of employment and technological intensity and productivity and industrial concentration. We add to this last discussion an investigation about concentration and the participation of foreign capital in industry.industrial concentration, productivity, technology

Identification and tunable optical coherent control of transition-metal spins in silicon carbide

Color centers in wide-bandgap semiconductors are attractive systems for quantum technologies since they can combine long-coherent electronic spin and bright optical properties. Several suitable centers have been identified, most famously the nitrogen-vacancy defect in diamond. However, integration in communication technology is hindered by the fact that their optical transitions lie outside telecom wavelength bands. Several transition-metal impurities in silicon carbide do emit at and near telecom wavelengths, but knowledge about their spin and optical properties is incomplete. We present all-optical identification and coherent control of molybdenum-impurity spins in silicon carbide with transitions at near-infrared wavelengths. Our results identify spin $S=1/2$ for both the electronic ground and excited state, with highly anisotropic spin properties that we apply for implementing optical control of ground-state spin coherence. Our results show optical lifetimes of $\sim$60 ns and inhomogeneous spin dephasing times of $\sim$0.3 $\mu$s, establishing relevance for quantum spin-photon interfacing.Comment: Updated version with minor correction, full Supplementary Information include

Healthcare-Associated Infections Among Neonates in Brazil

Abstract Objective: To describe the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) among neonates. Design: Prospective surveillance of HAIs was conducted during 2 years. Infections beginning within 48 hours of birth were defined as HAIs of maternal origin. Death occurring during an active episode of HAI was considered related to HAI. Setting: Seven neonatal units located in three Brazilian cities. Patients: All admitted neonates were included and observed until discharge. Results: Twenty-two percent of 4,878 neonates had at least one HAI. The overall incidence density was 24.9 per 1,000 patient-days, and 28.1% of all HAIs were maternally acquired. HAI rates ranged from 12.3% in the group with a birth weight (BW) of more than 2,500 g to 51.9% in the group with a BW of 1,000 g or less. The main HAIs were bloodstream infection (BSI) and pneumonia. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterobacter species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the main pathogens. Forty percent of all deaths were related to HAI. Central venous catheter (CVC)-associated BSIs per 1,000 CVC-days ranged from 17.3 (BW, 1,501 to 2,500 g; device utilization [DU], 0.11) to 34.9 (BW, ≤ 1,000 g; DU, 34.92). Ventilator-associated pneumonia per 1,000 ventilator-days ranged from 7.0 (BW, ≤ 1,000 g; DU, 0.34) to 9.2 (BW, 1,001 to 1,500 g; DU, 0.14). Conclusions: The high proportion of HAIs of maternal origin highlights perinatal care issues in Brazil and the need to improve the diagnosis of neonatal HAIs. The very low BW group and device-associated infections should be priorities for prevention strategies in this populatio

Analytic calculations of trial wave functions of the fractional quantum Hall effect on the sphere

We present a framework for the analytic calculations of the hierarchical wave functions and the composite fermion wave functions in the fractional quantum Hall effect on the sphere by using projective coordinates. Then we calculate the overlaps between these two wave functions at various fillings and small numbers of electrons. We find that the overlaps are all most equal to one. This gives a further evidence that two theories of the fractional quantum Hall effect, the hierarchical theory and the composite fermion theory, are physically equivalent.Comment: 37 pages, revte

A risk factor analysis of outcomes after unrelated cord blood transplantation for children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is a severe X-linked recessive immune deficiency disorder. A scoring system of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome severity (0.5-5) distinguishes 2 phenotypes: X-linked thrombocytopenia and classic Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Hematopoietic cell transplantation is curative for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, however the use of unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation has seldom been described. We analyzed umbilical cord blood transplantation outcomes for 90 patients. Median age at umbilical cord blood transplantation was 1.5 years. Patients were classified according to clinical scores (2 (23%), 3 (30%), 4 (23%) and 5 (19%)). Most patients received HLA mismatched umbilical cord blood transplantation and myeloablative conditioning with anti-thymocyte globulin. Cumulative incidence of neutrophil recovery at day-60 was 89% and day-100 acute graft-versus-host disease grade II-IV was 38%; use of methotrexate for graft-versus- host disease prophylaxis delayed engraftment (p=0.02), but decreased acute graft-versus-host disease (p=0.03). At 5-year, overall survival and event-free survival were 75% and 70%, respectively. Estimated 5 year- event-free survival was 83%, 73% and 55% for patients with clinical score 2, 4-5 and 3, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age<2years at umbilical cord blood transplantation and clinical phenotype X-linked thrombocytopenia were associated with improved event-free survival. Overall survival tended to be improved after 2007 (p=0.09). In conclusion, umbilical cord blood transplantation is a good alternative option for young children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome lacking an HLA identical stem cell donor

Effects of an H3R Antagonist on the Animal Model of Autism Induced by Prenatal Exposure to Valproic Acid

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders primarily characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted repetitive behaviors and interests. Ligands of histamine receptor 3 (H3R) are considered potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of different brain disorders and cognitive impairments. Considering this, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the actions of ciproxifan (CPX), an H3R antagonist, on the animal model of autism induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA). Swiss mice were prenatally exposed to VPA on embryonic day 11 and assessed for social behavior, nociceptive threshold and repetitive behavior at 50 days of life. The treatment with CPX (3 mg/kg) or saline was administered 30 minutes before each behavioral test. The VPA group presented lower sociability index compared to VPA animals that were treated with CPX. Compared to the Control group, VPA animals presented a significantly higher nociceptive threshold, and treatment with CPX was not able to modify this parameter. In the marble burying test, the number of marbles buried by VPA animals was consistent with markedly repetitive behavior. VPA animals that received CPX buried a reduced amount of marbles. In summary, we report that an acute dose of CPX is able to attenuate sociability deficits and stereotypies present in the VPA model of autism. Our findings have the potential to help the investigations of both the molecular underpinnings of ASD and of possible treatments to ameliorate the ASD symptomatology, although more research is still necessary to corroborate and expand this initial data